Tokens of Affection

Book excerpt: A refined and remarkably well-educated woman, Maria Bryan began corresponding with her sister when she was sixteen years old. As Carol Bleser points out in her introduction, Bryan travels, reads the popular books of the day, entertains visitors, and makes social calls. At the same time, however, notes Bleser, Bryan's letters belie popular notions about the privileged lives of "typical" planters' daughters in the antebellum South, for she also works at housekeeping, tends the sick at home and in the neighborhood, makes clothes for the family's slaves, and tutors younger siblings.